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## Chapter 5: The Five Great Vows
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**296.** Even a slight transgression of the five vows, or even doubt about them, can lead to self-inflicted harm, especially when partaking of food at night. This is because there is a risk of violating the vows, becoming contaminated, encountering thieves, or being apprehended by the authorities. Therefore, one should absolutely avoid eating at night.
**297.** There are eight types of conduct (charitra-achar) based on the eight types of preachers (pravachana-matas). These are characterized by the combination of *pranidhana* (vow) and *yoga* (effort) in the five *samitis* (assemblies) and the three *guptis* (secrecies). One should know that this is the eightfold conduct.
**298.** *Pranidhana* (vow) is also of two types: praiseworthy and unpraiseworthy. The *pranidhana* that leads to the five *samitis* and the three *guptis* is praiseworthy, while the *pranidhana* that leads to the remaining sense objects is unpraiseworthy.